STD infections among LA porn stars are higher than among Nevada prostitutes

Author: Veronica Radicati

Friday 2nd of November 2012 07:47:42 PM

People don't like to see porn actors wear condoms and that fact has its consequences: according to a report published this week, porn stars in Los Angeles have a much higher rate of STD infections than legal prostitutes working in the U.S. state of Nevada. The study, of which 168 adult film stars in the LA County took part in, says 28% (47 performers) tested positive for either gonorrhea, chlamydia and/or both. The report, conducted in 2010, also found that STD infection rates among legal prostitutes are low in Nevada since condom use and weekly testing, among those working in brothels, is state law.

The results come just 10 months after an ordinance approved by the LA city council, which made condom use mandatory in adult films as well. The porn industry however, has always professed its success in self-regulation for years via its implementation of regular STD testing. In fact, all porn film stars, allegedly, must be screened monthly for STDs and can only participate in a sex scene after proof of a negative status. And while the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), which lobbies for the industry and established porn’s STD-testing protocol and database, defends the testing policy and claims it helped prevent the spread of HIV, following the infection of actors in 2004, 2009 and 2010, many health campaigners say the porn community’s occasional outbreaks is proof that the measure is simply not enough. In response the FSC says that "the regulations imposed are without any input from the stakeholders most impacted – adult performers and producers," and that "mandatory condom regulation will not increase performer safety… [but rather] diminish the successful standards and protocols already in place and compromise performer health”. Moreover, "Government regulation of sexual behavior between consenting adults is, and has always been, a bad idea. The government has no business in our bedrooms, real or fantasy." We don't think that porn viewers are overly concerned about the health of their favorite actors either -it certainly seems to rank second behind their personal pleasure- but hey, maybe that's just us.For the complete story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/std-rates-in-la-porn-stars-higher-than-in-nevada-prostitutes.html